Apparatus for communicating service lines to mains

ABSTRACT

A device for facilitating the act of connecting a service line to a flowing main line. A gate type valve is rigidly attached to the main line and a barrel is removably affixed to the valve and is adapted to cooperate with a mandrel which includes a shaped charge at one extremity thereof. The mandrel cooperates with the barrel to enable the shaped charge to be positioned adjacent the main line, whereupon the explosive shaped charge perforates the main line when a detonator is activated. The mandrel is retrieved along with the barrel to enable further use of the device. The invention also comprehends a mandrel that can be affixed between the gate valve and the flowing main line by including a recoil device in conjunction therewith. The invention further includes a shaped charge that is adapted to be fabricated into the ball member of a ball type valve.

United States Patent 119 Bates 1 Jan. 9, 1973 s41 APPARATUS FORCOMMUNICATING 3,612,082 10/1971 Bates ..'.137/31s SERVICE LINES TO MAINSPrimary Examiner-Edgar W. Geoghegan L. B d T [75] Inventor Marcus ates 0e853 ex Assistant ExaminerDavid R. Matthews [73] Assignee: T. D.Williamson, lnc., Tulsa, Okla. An0mey Marcus L Bates [21] Appl' 176812 Adevice for facilitating the act of connecting a ser- Related sApplication Data vice line to a flowing main line A gate type valve isr1g1dly attached to the mam lme and a barrel 1s [60] i of Nojoooigmi1970' removably affixed to the valve and is adapted to 3 gb j r ig 3 gcooperate with a mandrel which includes a shaped i 396 charge at oneextremity thereof. The mandrel cooperates with the barrel to enable theshaped [52]. US. Cl. ..l37/3l8 charge to be positifmed adjacent the mainline 51 1m. (:1. ..B23b 41/08, Fl6e 41 /04 whsreqpon the exploswe Shapedcharge perforates the 5 Field f s 37 15 7 3 315 31 317 main l1ne when adetonator 1s actlvated. The mandrel 137 313; 29 213 421 157 157 isretrievedalong with the barrel to enable further use 1 of the device.The invention also comprehends a mandrel that can be affixed between theate valve and the g References Cited flowing main line by including arecoil device in conjunction therewith. The invention further includes aUNITED STATES PATENTS shaped charge that is adapted to be fabricatedinto the 3,038,484 .6/1962 Smith ..l37/15 ball member of a ball typevalve; 3,072,138 l/l963 Fabian et al ..l37/318 3,503,407 3/1970 Ver Nooy..l3 7/l5 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9:915 3.709.250

M- FIG. FIG. 2 4 s ze I N 8 2o 5 42 3W5??? L 3 2 I6 50 L524 INVENTORMARCUS L. BATES APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING SERVICE LINES TO MAINSREFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS This patent application is aDivision of Ser. No. 000,930 filed Jan. 6, 1970, now US. Pat. No.3,612,082; which was a Continuation of Ser. No. 774,802, filed July 15,1968; which in turn was a Division ofSer. No. 620,738, now US. Pat. No.3,396,745.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various prior art methods and apparatus forconnecting a lateral service line to a flowing main line are known inthe art. These prior art methods and devices usually involve thenecessity of drilling a hole into the main by utilizing a clever valvearrangement that cooperates with a drilling machine in a manner topermit the drilling machine to perforate the main flowing line, afterwhich the drilling machine along with the drill is removed, the valveclosed, and the apparatus disassembled from the downstream sidewhereupon the service line connection may then be completed. Other priorart devices enable one to tap a flowing main by driving a penetratingbarrel into the main under the influence of an explosive charge. Whileboth these expedients satisfactorily perform their intended objects,they are expensive, require skilled technicians, and furthermore oftenlead to disastrous results, including abandonment of the tap-inequipment, when the tap-in is not performed in the proper manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention enables a serviceline connection to be made to high pressure flowing gas mains, watermains, and the like, without service interruption to existing serviceline connections.

It should be understood that the term main as used herein relates to anyfluid conveying conduit and the term service line as used hereinrelatesto any lateral or branch fluid conveying conduit that may beconnected to such a main.

It is often desirable, especially in a water transmission main or a highpressure gas main line, to tap into the main line so as to provide a newsource of fluid flow at a particular point along the transmission line.In order to effect the desired establishment of a new service lineconnection, it is best to wait until the main line is not in use so asto enable workmen to attach the service line to the main at anydesirable point, and in a conventional manner. In certain high pressurefluid flowing conduits, it is often impossible to discontinue the flowof fluid for economic reasons. Accordingly, it is desirable to be ableto connect a service line to a fluid carrying main line without havingto discontinue fluid flow through the main line. It is further desirableto be able to effect the connection of a service line to a main line inan economical, simple, and foolproof manner.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide ameans for establishing a service line connection which requiresconnecting a lateral conduit to the main conduit, establishingcommunication between the main and the lateral, while at the same timepreventing the escape of fluid from the main by the provision of a meansfor isolating the portion of the lateral that is being worked on fromthe atmosphere.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a means by which aservice connection may be directly connected to a flowing main byutilizing the apparatus set forth herein.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a barrel and amandrel that are adapted to cooperate I with a valve and nipple thathave previously been rigidly attached to a main to thereby enable theutilization of a shaped charge to penetrate the main to therebyestablish communication between the main and the valve.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus thatis adapted to perforate a flowing main to thereby establishcommunication to a lateral in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a simpleand economical means of establishing communication between a mainflowing line and a lateral service line connected thereto.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a valvemeans having a shaped charge associated therewith that penetrates ametallic wall in a manner to provide communication between the valvemeans and the opposite side of the metallic wall.

The above advantages, desires, and objects of the present invention arecarried out by the provision of a shaped charge carrying device thatcooperates with a valve member in a manner that enables the shapedcharge to explosively communicate the interior of the main with thevalve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation generallyillustrating the completed installation that is effected by the presentinvention. 7

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional exploded view showing the details of oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing part of the invention in itsoperative position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the device seen inFIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of still another form of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of still another modification of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The arrow at numeral 10illustrates the completed connection between a main and service line andincludes a main 12, having a fluid flowing therethrough, about whichthere has been welded a reinforcing saddle I4. The saddle I4 is weldedto the main 12 as well as to a nipple 16. A gate type valve 18, whichmay be in several different forms, is welded to the nipple 1'6, and asecond nipple 20 is provided in opposite relationship to the valve 18with respect to the first nipple 16. The valve means 18 and nipples I6and 20 may be either prefabricated or constructed as a unitary device,if desired. Upon establishment of communication between nipple l6 andthe main 12, a service line 22, also called a lateral, is provided withfluid flow from the main 12. Accordingly, while it is preferred to weldthe various permanent components of the lateral service conduit togetherin the illustrated manner exemplified by numerals 23, 24, and 25, itshould be understood that other known means of connecting metal objectstogether may alternatively be used if deemed desirable.

The means valve 18 includes a valve element 26 which may be moved fromthe opened position of FIG. 2 to a closed position in the conventionalmanner as is known to those skilled in the art.

A heavy duty barrel 30, having threads 33 thereon, cooperates with thethreads 32 of the before mentioned nipple to enable the barrel to beremovably attached to the remaining components of the device. The insideperipheral wall 34 is polished except for the area having the threadeddepending end at 36.

A mandrel 40 is received in close tolerance relationship within thebarrel, and is provided with threads 42 about the outside peripheralsurface thereof that threadedly cooperates with the before mentionedthreads 36 of the'barrel to thereby enable the mandrel to bescrew-fitted into the barrel. O-rings 44 are received in the illustratedgrooved recesses to assure a fluid tight, high pressure seal between theoutside peripheral wall of the mandrel and the inside peripheral wall 34of the barrel 30.

Opposite the threaded end 42 of the mandrel, there is provided acounterbore 48 that is adapted to receive a conventional shaped chargein tight fitting relationship therein. A threaded aperture 41 isoptionally provided to receive a threaded screw for the purpose ofholding the shaped charge rigidly affixed within the v counterbore 48.

A passageway 50 communicates the counterbore 48 with the outlet 51 tothereby provide a passageway through which a pair of electricalconductors may be sealingly passed. A high pressure seal is providedthat is comprised of a threaded passageway 52 which receives a resilientdisk 54, and a threaded plug 56 that threadedly engages the threadedpassageway 52 to thereby press the disk 54 against the wires within thepassageway 51.

A conventional shaped charge 60 having a detonator 62associatedtherewith is received within the before mentioned counterbore48. The detonator 62 includes electrical conductors 63 that may bethreaded through the before mentioned passageway 50, to an externalsource of electrical current.

The length of threads 42 with respect to threads 36 are of aconfiguration to enable the mandrel 40 to be positioned adjacent themain 12 in the illustrated manner of FIG. 3, as well as to enable themandrel 40 to be withdrawn by screwing the mandrel from the barrel 30 tothereby enable the charge carrying free end of the mandrel to bethreadedly withdrawn in an outward direction past the valve element 26of gate valve 18, while still remaining threadedly engaged with threads36 a sufficient amount to preclude the mandrel 40 from being separatedfrom-the barrel 30. Unless these necessary precautions are taken, onecould end up in the embarrassing situation wherein the charge carryingportion of the mandrel would not clear valve 26, and accordingly themandrel would not permit the valve 26 to close. This unfortunatesituation would result in the necessity of leaving the entire assembleddevice in the above described condition,- once the main is perforated,and without effecting or completing the connection of FIG. 1.

Looking now to the details of the embodiment illustrated by the drawingsin FIG. 4, wherein there is disclosed a main 112 having a saddle 114reinforcedly connecting a gate valve 1 I8 thereto by means of theillustrated nipple. On the opposite side of the gate valve, there isprovided a flow line, rigidly attached thereto. The recited componentsmay be welded as illustrated at numeral 123, 124, and 125. The gatevalve 1 18 includes a sliding valve element 126 which may be moved fromthe illustrated closed position to an opened position. The nipple 116slidably receives a perforating device that is comprised of a barrel 130having a base 132 integrally formed therewith and within which there isslidably received a coiled spring 134. Reciprocatingly received withinthe barrel 130 is a charge carrying mandrel 136 having a counterboresuitably formed to receive a shaped charge in close fitting tolerancetherewithin. The charge carrying mandrel includes a lateral passagewaythat receives a detonator 162. The nipple 116 is provided with a sealedplug 156 through which there depends electrical wires 163 for thepurpose of exploding detonator 162 when a suitable current is appliedthereto. I Looking now to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, whereinthere is seen a nipple 216 that interconnects a valve body 218 to a mainflow line (not shown) and a lateral service main 220. The ball valveassembly 218 is preferably welded as illustrated at 223 and 225 andincludes a rotatable ball element 226 having .a passageway 265therethrough that'enlarges into a configuration at 260 that is contouredin a manner to receive a shaped charge in close tolerance fittingrelationship therewith. The ball element 226 may also be called amandrel, and the valve housing a barrel. The shaped charge is providedwith a detonator having electrical lead wires 263 threaded through thepassageway 265. The passageway 265 is of a sufficient size to permitfluid flow of a suitable magnitude. The ball element 226 is rotatable360 about an upstanding vertical axis, as is known in the art.

Looking now to the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein thereis illustrated a main flow line 214 to which there is welded a nipple orflow conduit in the form of a barrel member 280 that threadedly engagesa second-member 281 by means of the threads illustrated at 282. Themandrel member 281 is provided with a drilled passageway 283 thatcommunicates with a multiplicity of radial passageways 284. The radialpassageways 284, when rotated into the position as illustrated in FIGS.6 and 7, are aligned with longitudinally extending grooves 285 thatcommunicate with, or enlarge into, the larger annular chambersurrounding the charge carrying portion 286 of the member.

O-rings 287 are provided in the illustrated groove in a manner to becompressed when the member 281 is screwed into tight fittingrelationship by closing the gap seen at 288. The member 281 includes anenlarged threaded portion 289 to which a lateral service line may beattached.

OPERATION The operation of the embodiment of FIG. 2 is practiced inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention by attaching thenipple 16 to the main flow line 12 by the illustrated welding at 23. Asaddle 14 additionally attaches the nipple 16 to the main line 12. A

gate valve 18 is welded to the nipple 16 as illustrated at 24. A secondnipple 20 is welded to the gate valve as illustrated at 25. The valveelement 26 may be 'moved from a closed to the illustrated openedposition, and the barrel 30 is securely threaded onto the nipple 20 inthe illustrated manner of FIG. 2. A conventional shaped charge 60,including a detonator 62, is placed within the mandrel with the leadwires 63 extending through passageway 50, and with the free ends of thelead wires extending a substantial distance away from the outlet 51. Theshaped charge 60 may be secured within the counterbore 48 by theprovision of a screw placed in the threaded passageway 41, if desired.The inside peripheral surface of the barrel is properly lubricated andthe mandrel 40 is slidably fitted thereinto with the threads 42 engagingthe threads 36 whereupon the mandrel is screwed into the barrel 30 untilthe shaped charge 60 is adjacent the outside peripheral surface of themain line 12. Care must be taken that a suitable number of threads 42are mated with the threads 36. A suitable current source is applied tothe depending free ends of electrical conductors 63, whereupon theexplosion of the shaped charge 60 perforates the main flow line 12, withthe area of the perforation being dependent upon the design features ofthe shaped charge 60. It is considered within the comprehension of thoseskilled in the art to select a shaped charge 60 having suitablecharacteristics to perforate the main flow line 12 an amount to providea suitable connection thereto, while at the same time avoiding damage tothe opposite inside peripheral wall surface of the main line. 6

After perforating the main line 12, the mandrel 40 is unscrewed from thebarrel 30 a predetermined amount to permit the free end, or chargecarrying portion of the mandrel 40, to clear the valve element 26,whereupon the valve element 26 is moved to the closed position. Caremust be taken that ample threads at this'stage of the operation areprovided between the threaded surfaces 36 and 42 to assure retention ofthe mandrel within the barrel 30 when this position is attained. Sincevalve 26, is now closed, the barrel 30 may be unscrewed at 32, 33,thereby removing both the barrel 30 along with the enclosed mandrel40'from the assembly. The service flow line 22 is next attached byscrewing the flow line into the threads at 32, after which the valve 18may be moved to the opened position, whereupon flow is now provided tothe service line 22. The barrel 30 and mandrel 40 are suitable forfuture use by merely replacing the shaped charge 60.

In practicing the invention with the device illustrated in FIG. 4, anipple and saddle arrangement 114 is rigidly affixed to the main flowline 112 along witha valve 118 and a nipple 120, as previously discussedin conjunction with the illustrations of FIGS.'1 and 2. The valveelement 126 is moved to the opened position, and the charge carryingdevice inserted into the lateral service line nipple where it is heldcompressed between the unperforated outer peripheral wall surface ofmain line 112 and the valve element 126, when the valve element is movedto the closed position. After the shaped charge holding device ispositioned as illustrated in F IG. 4, the device may be armed by placingthe detonator 162 therein with the lead wires 163 extending through thesealed plug 156. A suitable current source applied to lead wires 163explodes detonator 162 that in turn fires the shaped charge to perforatethe main 112. After the main 112 is perforated, the entire shaped chargeholding device may be suitably removed by placing a cap over thethreaded free end of the nipple 120 (not shown), opening the valve 118,whereupon the shaped charge will fall into the nipple 120 (assuming thedevice to be vertically depending below the main line 112).

Where the nipple is horizontal, the entire shaped charge containingdevice may be blown from the nipple by opening the valve 118. Theservice line can then be tied in by again closing the valve 118 tothereby permit suitable connections to be made to the pipe 120,whereupon the valve 118 can again be moved to the opened position toestablish flow.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with the embodiment depictedby FIG. 5, the pipe nipple 216, valve 218, and nipple 220 are weldedtogether and to the main line in the same manner as generallyillustrated in FIG. 1. The barrel or valve housing 218 includes amandrel or ball type valve element 226 that is rotatable 360 in theillustrated cross-sectional plane. The ball valve element 226 isprovided with a suitable passageway 265 of a size to permit the desiredflow through the service line 220. The counterbore 265 is enlarged at260 and contoured to receive a shaped charge, such as the beforeillustrated shaped charge 60, in close tolerance fitting relationshiptherewithin. A detonator is provided for the shaped charge, and leadwires 263 are brought rearwardly from the shaped charge, through thepassageway 265, and to a suitable source of electric current. Upondetonation of the shaped charge and after communication is effectedbetween the main line and the nipple 216, the valve element 226 can berotated 180, whereupon the shaped charge will be forced from theenlarged bore 260 and downstream of the valve 218. The valve can then berotated to its closed position, and the service line connected to thenipple 220. In rotating the valve ball element 180, the wires 263 willbe out due to the close tolerance fit between the ball element 226 andthe housing 218.

In carrying out the invention in accordance withthe embodiments of FIGS.6 and 7, the barrel 280 and mandrel 281 remain attached to the flow line214 so as to become a component part of the service line. The barrel 280is suitably welded to the main line 214, and a mandrel 281 containingashaped charge within the counterbore 286 is then screw fitted by meansof screw threads 282 into the device as illustrated in FIG. 6. Themandrel 281 is tightened against o-ring 287 until the annular groove at288 is substantially contained within the annulus provided'for theo-ring 287 with the radially extending passageways 284 being mis-alignedwith the longitudinally extending slots 285. The barrel 280 and mandrel281 may be properly indexed upon the outer peripheral surface thereof soas to indicate the relative position of passageways 284 with respect toslots 285. The detonator that explodes the shaped charge may be broughtthrough the side as illustrated, or alternatively may be extendedthrough passageway 283, in a manner similar to passageway 265 of FIG. 5.Upon detonation, the annular area 276 will be filled with the pressureexistent within flow line 214. However, this pressure will not flow intothe passageway 283 since radially extending slots 284 are misalignedwith slots 285. Accordingly, the service line may be connected to themandrel 281 by means of screw threads 289, and thereafter the mandrel281 can be rotated with respect to barrel 280, whereupon radialextending passageways 284 are aligned with slots 285 to thereby providea source of flow from pipe 214 into the annulus 276, through slots 285,along the radial extending passageways 284, and into the laterallyextending central passageway 283 to where the flow then joins into theservice pipe connected at 289.

Accordingly, while i have shown and described several specificembodiments of my invention, the means by which the present method canbe practiced is not to be construed as being limited to the foregoingdisclosure, but rather is to be considered only in light of the appendedclaims. Therefore, what I deem to be the metes and bounds of'myintellectual property is set forth in the following claims.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for communicating a service pipe with a main line whereinthe servicepipe is adapted to be connected to a valve means with thevalve means-being spaced apart from and attached to the main line by aflow conduit, the improvement comprising:

a shaped charge, detonation means connected for exploding said shapedcharge;

means including a mandrel for holding said shaped charge;

means for positioning said mandrel within the flow conduit andadjacentto the outer peripheral wall surface of the main line when the valvemeans is in the closed position; whereby:

upon positioning said shaped charge adjacent said main line, said shapedcharge, upon being detonated, perforates the wall of the main line tothereby enable communication betweenthe main line and the service pipeto be effected upon open- -ing the valve.

2. The improvement ofclaim 1 wherein said mandrel is adapted to betelescopingly received withinthe flow conduit when said valve isin theopened position; and

biasing means for normally maintaining said shaped charge adjacent tothe mainline and spaced apart from the valve means when the valve meansis in the closed position.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said mandrel includes a bodyhaving a first and second end portion;

, said means for holding said shaped charge including a counterbore atsaid first end of said body; 7 said baising means depending from saidsecond end of said body and into engagement with the valve means. j

4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said mandrel includes a bodyhaving a first'and second end portion; means forming a counterbore atsaid first end for providing the stated function of holding said. shapedcharge; I I

a barrel, said mandrel having a portion thereof which is slidablyreceived by said barrel;

said biasing means depending from said second end portion and intoengagement with said barrel.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said mandrel is adapted to betelescopingly received within said flow conduit when said valve is inthe opened position; and

biasing means for normally maintaining said mandrel spaced apart fromthe valve means when the valve means is in the closed position;

said mandrel includes a body having a first and second end portion,means forming a counterbore at said first end portion for providing therecited function of receiving said shaped charge;

a barrel, said mandrel having a portion thereof which is telescopinglyreceived by said barrel; and

said biasing means depending from said second end portion and intoengagement with said barrel.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for positioning saidmandrel includes at least part of said valve means, said valve meansincludes part of said flow conduit, means including said mandrel forminga valve element within said flow conduit; whereby:

said valve element can be moved to a position which attains the statedfunction of positioning said mandrel within said flow conduit.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said valve means includessaidmandrel and at least part of said flow conduit;

said flow conduit including means on the inside peripheral wall surfacethereof for rotatably receiving said mandrel therein; means forming aflow passageway longitudinally of and along the inside peripheral wallsurface of said flow conduit; said mandrel including a longitudinallyextending flow passageway within said mandrel and a flow passagewaycommunicating with said longitudinally extending passageway; I i saidflow passageway of said flow conduit being aligned with said flowpassageway of said mandrel when said valve is moved to the openedposition, and said flow passageway of said flow conduit being misalignedwith said flow passageway of said mandrel when said valve is moved tothe closed position, whereby: upon detonation of said shaped charge,said valve, when in the closed position, prevents flow from said mainline to said service line, and when said valve is moved to the openposition, flow occurs from said main line,'int0 said flow conduit, alongsaid flow passageway of said flow conduit, through said flow passagewayof said mandrel, through said longitudinally extending passageway,andinto the service line.

8. The improvementof claim 1 wherein said mandrel and said flow conduitjointly form said valve means;

said mandrel includes a first end portion for holding said shapedcharge, and a second end portion adapted to be flow connected to theservice line,

seal means formed between said flow conduit and said mandrel, and meansby which a flow passageway can be formed through said mandrel; saidpassageway of said flow conduit being aligned with said passageway of'said mandrel when said valve is opened, and said passageway of saidflow conduit being misaligned with said passageway of said mandrel whensaid valve is in the closed positlon.

9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said mandrel and said flow conduitcooperatetogether to form said said shaped charge, when said mandrel ismoved to the opened position, is disposed relative to said main line toenable the shaped charge to perforate the main line.

1. Apparatus for communicating a service pipe with a main line wherein the service pipe is adapted to be connected to a valve means with the valve means being spaced apart from and attached to the main line by a flow conduit, the improvement comprising: a shaped charge, detonation means connected for exploding said shaped charge; means including a mandrel for holding said shaped charge; means for positioning said mandrel within the flow conduit and adjacent to the outer peripheral wall surface of the main line when the valve means is in the closed position; whereby: upon positioning said shaped charge adjacent said main line, said shaped charge, upon being detonated, perforates the wall of the main line to thereby enable communication between the main line and the service pipe to be effected upon opening the valve.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said mandrel is adapted to be telescopingly received within the flow conduit when said valve is in the opened position; and biasing means for normally maintaining said shaped charge adjacent to the main line and spaced apart from the valve means when the valve means is in the closed position.
 3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said mandrel includes a body having a first and second end portion; said means for holding said shaped charge including a counterbore at said first end of said body; said baising means depending from said second end of said body and into engagement with the valve means.
 4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said mandrel includes a body having A first and second end portion; means forming a counterbore at said first end for providing the stated function of holding said shaped charge; a barrel, said mandrel having a portion thereof which is slidably received by said barrel; said biasing means depending from said second end portion and into engagement with said barrel.
 5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said mandrel is adapted to be telescopingly received within said flow conduit when said valve is in the opened position; and biasing means for normally maintaining said mandrel spaced apart from the valve means when the valve means is in the closed position; said mandrel includes a body having a first and second end portion, means forming a counterbore at said first end portion for providing the recited function of receiving said shaped charge; a barrel, said mandrel having a portion thereof which is telescopingly received by said barrel; and said biasing means depending from said second end portion and into engagement with said barrel.
 6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for positioning said mandrel includes at least part of said valve means, said valve means includes part of said flow conduit, means including said mandrel forming a valve element within said flow conduit; whereby: said valve element can be moved to a position which attains the stated function of positioning said mandrel within said flow conduit.
 7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes said mandrel and at least part of said flow conduit; said flow conduit including means on the inside peripheral wall surface thereof for rotatably receiving said mandrel therein; means forming a flow passageway longitudinally of and along the inside peripheral wall surface of said flow conduit; said mandrel including a longitudinally extending flow passageway within said mandrel and a flow passageway communicating with said longitudinally extending passageway; said flow passageway of said flow conduit being aligned with said flow passageway of said mandrel when said valve is moved to the opened position, and said flow passageway of said flow conduit being misaligned with said flow passageway of said mandrel when said valve is moved to the closed position, whereby: upon detonation of said shaped charge, said valve, when in the closed position, prevents flow from said main line to said service line, and when said valve is moved to the open position, flow occurs from said main line, into said flow conduit, along said flow passageway of said flow conduit, through said flow passageway of said mandrel, through said longitudinally extending passageway, and into the service line.
 8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said mandrel and said flow conduit jointly form said valve means; said mandrel includes a first end portion for holding said shaped charge, and a second end portion adapted to be flow connected to the service line, seal means formed between said flow conduit and said mandrel, and means by which a flow passageway can be formed through said mandrel; said passageway of said flow conduit being aligned with said passageway of said mandrel when said valve is opened, and said passageway of said flow conduit being misaligned with said passageway of said mandrel when said valve is in the closed position.
 9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said mandrel and said flow conduit cooperate together to form said valve means with said mandrel being rotatably and sealingly received within said flow conduit so that rotation of said mandrel relative to said flow conduit moves the valve means to the closed position and another rotation of said mandrel relative to said flow conduit moves the valve means to the opened position, and, said shaped charge, when said mandrel is moved to the opened position, is disposed relative to said main line to enable the shaped charge to perforate the main line. 